Yes, it is possible to elevate an injury too much. Elevation is a technique commonly used at home as self-treatment for many types of musculoskeletal injuries. Elevating injuries in your legs or arms can encourage fluid to drain away from the area, reducing pressure and swelling.
However, elevating your injured area too high or for too long can have unexpected and sometimes negative consequences.
Why are you elevating your injury in the first place?
Elevation is part of the standard rule of thumb for self-care after minor injuries: RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Taken together, these methods can help alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and promote the body’s healing response, helping you get back to normal.
Even if you don’t have a specific injury, some people can develop excess fluid in their legs and ankles after being on their feet all day. In these cases, elevating the legs above your heart for at least 15 minutes can have several health benefits, including promoting:
- Decreased blood pressure
- Improved blood flow
- Relief from muscle tension
- Prevention of varicose veins
When should you avoid elevating an injury too much?
Despite all its benefits, elevation can also come with risks for people with certain preexisting conditions. Elevating an injury for long periods of time can be especially risky if you have certain heart conditions or blood pressure issues. This is mainly because elevating your injury can lower your blood pressure and decrease the rate of blood flow throughout your body. As a result, some conditions can actually worsen with prolonged elevation. Those conditions can include:
- Chronic low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Congestive heart failure
- Peripheral artery disease
If you have any of the above conditions or any conditions related to them, it is important that you speak to your doctor before you attempt to self-treat an injury or other swelling by elevating the area for a long period of time.
What can you do to make sure you’re not elevating your injury too much?
If you’re concerned that you might be elevating your injury too much, there are several ways you can ensure that you’re elevating your injury appropriately. You can follow the following steps to protect your injury while encouraging it to heal:
Listen to your body
The way in which your body reacts while you elevate your injury can tell you a lot about its limitations. For example, if you elevate your legs for 30 minutes at a time and feel an uncomfortable tingling sensation, you may need to decrease the amount of time or height at which you are elevating them. You should also know your medical history and understand that some other medical condition may cause this technique to increase your heart rate or make you dizzy.
Find the best angle to elevate your injury
The symptoms of your injury can worsen if the angle of your elevation is too intense. For example, one study found that elevating the legs at a higher degree does not correlate to a better or faster healing process. Instead, it can simply lead to more discomfort. Physical therapists and other medical professionals can teach you how to correctly elevate your injury.
Ask a medical professional how long you should elevate your injury every day.
You want your injury to heal quickly, and elevation can be one helpful tool in your recovery toolbox. However, your medical history may make elevation unsafe. Your physical therapist or doctor can evaluate your medical history and recommend or advise against elevating your injury every day. Your physical therapist may also recommend doing several short rounds of elevation throughout the day, rather than one or two extended periods.
Find treatment for your musculoskeletal injury at Crane Physical Therapy & Spine
Hoping to recover from swelling or an injury as quick as possible? to make sure your injury has the most effective treatment possible? Our team at Crane PT & Spine is here to help. Request your appointment today and start on the path to healing with our comprehensive care.